In 2021 The Sedbury Trust funded Gloucestershire’s Virtual School (who support the educational attainment and progress of children and young people in care), assisting young people in care over 16 years of age who were keen to pursue further education and training. The Virtual School used Personal Education Plan meetings at schools and colleges across Gloucestershire to identify young people who were keen to pursue further studies and training, but lacked the resources many children going on to college, university, or further training would have access to. Access to a personal computer is something that many children and families can take for granted, with multiple devices in every household, and laptops and computers seen as a standard tool for undertaking further education. These bright and ambitious young people who did not have their own device, or one of sufficient quality to enable their studies, were offered a new laptop complete with necessary applications to enable their future learning. The laptops have provided the young people with the ability to access their education remotely, and supported them to achieve their educational goals.
The Virtual School where overwhelmed with young people, their carers and support workers keen to feedback on the positive impact this had for them:
‘As her social worker she asked me to contact you just to say thank you so much for the laptop that has been provided for her. I saw her last week and she was really full of excitement about her laptop. The battery lasts all day which means she can use it at college without having to worry. The fact that she has Word on it means that she can do all of her college work really easily.’
‘when asked if they were still having trouble accessing online education work, they said, ‘no because I have a new laptop that works and is really fast.’
‘absolutely delighted to learn that she will be receiving a new laptop which will be very useful with her University work.’
‘Thank you again so much, she really is chuffed to bits with her laptop so much so that she said it makes her look forward to doing her work!’
‘absolutely thrilled with her new laptop and finds it very useful to do all her college work.’
‘The young person’s Foster care says that they are very, very happy and thrilled with their laptop. He said it will be so very useful for University as his old laptop was not much good at all.’
